Two brothers caused terror and mayhem in a Newent pub after one of them drunkenly objected to a stranger's young child being out late at night, a court heard today.

Riley Stevens, 27, who had been barred from the George Hotel in Newent, was outside the pub at 11pm on April 1st last year and saw the Johnson family, who had a child with them, Gloucester crown court was told.

He began shouting aggressively at the family about the child being up so late and then assaulted mum Sarah Johnson, grabbing her by the throat and pushing her across the road into a van.

Hearing the commotion, the pub manager Daniel Yeandle intervened and stopped Stevens' attack on Ms Johnson, said prosecutor Caighli Taylor.

She said a pub customer, Ben Purvis, also went out to intervene and try to calm things down. He tried to persuade Stevens to leave - but he would not and became more aggressive.

"The defendant lunged towards Mr Purvis, who had to hit him about ten times to get him to let go. Mr Yeandle went back into the pub and locked the gates to prevent Stevens getting in.

"Outside, the defendant ripped off his top and shouted 'Get back here, I'll fight anyone!'"

Ms Taylor said at that point Stevens' brother Jake, 23, arrived on the scene and started shouting 'Who's hitting my brother?'

He also ripped off his shirt.

"They climbed over the locked gate, which is about eight feet high, and ran to the bar area, aggresive and wound up.

"Riley Stevens punched Mr Yeandle in the head. There were sounds of smashing glass. Mr Purvis was concerned and took refuge in the pub cellar.

"Riley then hit Mr Yeandle in the mouth but Jake got in front of him and said 'Don't hit him, he's a good bloke.'

"Riley then stopped but Jake was heard to say 'This pub will be burnt to the ground. There will be nothing left of it. You'd better show me where he (Mr Purvis) is."

However, the brothers then left, Ms Taylor said, and they were arrested later.

In a victim impact statement Mr Purvis said he is now worried what will happen when he next sees Riley.

"I am frightened and feel very vulnerable," he stated. "It is known in the town that they can do what they like and everyone is scared of them."

Ms Taylor said Riley had 10 previous offences on his criminal record, including for two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm, and he was in breach of a 22 month suspended sentence.

Jake had made six previous court appearances for offences including assault and handling stolen goods.

Sabhia Pathan, for Riley, described their behaviour that night as 'yobbery' fuelled by excessive drinking. Riley had been in custody on remand since the incident and was addressing his alcoholism problem, she said.

He had been receiving medical treatment for depression following the break up of his marriage and the fact he had seen his child only once since 2008, she added.

"On this night, when he saw the Johnsons outside with a child, he asked 'why is that child up so late?' He challenged Mrs Johnson about it and his opinion on the matter led to the confrontation. "

For Jake, solicitor Jason Coulter said he had got involved only because he thought his brother was 'in peril' outside the pub and he went to assist him.

That was a theme between them - in 2012 a similar situation had arisen when Jake went to his brother's aid, he said,

The brothers both admitted a charge of affray. Riley admitted common assaults on Mrs Johnson, Mr Yeandle and Mr Purvis.

Judge Michael Cullum told the pair "You presented a very frightening picture on April 1st at the George Hotel. The level of violence and the level of fear you caused when you climbed the gates and went into the pub was such that I am satisfied I should make an exclusion order against both of you. You are not go to to that pub and the order is indefinite."

The judge jailed Riley, of Southend Lane, Newent, for a total of 32 months, telling him "You were a menace to the general population that night."

He passed a 12 months jail sentence suspended for a year on Jake, of Buscombe Gardens, Hucclecote, and ordered him to do 180 hours of unpaid work.